Instream Use
In this Section:
- Introduction
- Hydroelectric Power Generation
- Water Transport
- Freshwater Fisheries
- Wildlife
- Recreation: Importance of Water for Tourism and Recreation in Canada
- Waste Disposal
Introduction
Unlike withdrawal uses, instream uses cannot be measured quantitatively because the water is not removed from its natural environment. Instead, instream uses are described by certain characteristics of the water or by the benefits they provide to us and the ecosystem.
Flow rates and water levels are very important factors for instream uses. When these conditions are changed by a dam, for example, it is easy for conflicts to arise. The most common conflict is between hydroelectric development and other uses with respect of aquatic life, wildlife, water supply and water transportation. Storage of the spring freshet (a high river flow caused by rapidly melting snow) removes the natural variability of streamflows on which many life processes depend, in particular, the highly productive ecosystems of deltas, estuaries and wetlands. To make the best use of our water, all needs must be carefully assessed and taken into account.
Hydroelectric Power Generation
This water use is the principal source of electricity in Canada today. Billions of dollars have been invested in its development. With large undeveloped hydroelectric sites still available in Quebec, Newfoundland, Manitoba, British Columbia, and the territories, this form of energy development will retain its prominent position for years to come. However, the environmental and human effects to be avoided or mitigated in such large projects make them increasingly difficult and costly to plan and build.
Water: A powerful source of energy
Hydroelectric energy is produced by the force of falling water. The capacity to produce this energy is dependent on both the available flow and the height from which it falls. Building up behind a high dam, water accumulates potential energy. This is transformed into mechanical energy when the water rushes down the sluice and strikes the rotary blades of turbine. The turbine's rotation spins electromagnets which generate current in stationary coils of wire. Finally, the current is put through a transformer where the voltage is increased for long distance transmission over power lines. In Canada, hydroelectric plants satisfy 62% of electricity demands.
Water Transport
Inland waterways in Canada have historically played a major role in getting Canadian goods and raw materials to market. Some traditional uses, such as log driving, have now disappeared. However, water transport is still the most economical means of moving the bulky raw materials which are our main exports: wheat, pulp, lumber, and minerals. The main transportation waterways are the St. Lawrence River, which allows passage of ocean-going ships from the Atlantic Ocean deep into the heart of North America, nearly as far as the prairie wheat fields; the Mackenzie River, which is a vital northern transportation link; and the lower Fraser River on the Pacific Coast. Cargo in the hundreds of millions of tonnes is transported along these routes each year. Reliable and predictable lake and river levels are very important for this use.'
Freshwater Fisheries
Blessed with hundreds of thousands of freshwater lakes and rivers, Canada provides some of the most spectacular sport fishing in the world. In 1995, over 4.2 million Canadians and visiting anglers took advantage of this fact, spending $7.4 billon in the process. In 1997, the freshwater fishing industry contributed $71 million to the GDP and employed 3 500 people. Moreover, coastal rivers provide spawning grounds for salmon and other fish populations which support major saltwater fisheries.
Wildlife
Many wildlife species live in, on, or near the water and require access to it throughout their lives. Other species may not use water as their primary habitat, but it is nonetheless essential to their well-being.
Watching, photographing and studying wildlife are all popular forms of recreation for Canadians. About 19% of Canadians aged 15 years and over participated in these activities as the main or as a secondary reason for their nature-related trip, according to a 1996 survey, and spent about $1.3 billion that year on them. In 1996, hunting attracted over one in twenty Canadians and accounted for about $800 million of wildlife-related spending. An additional $320 million was spent in 1996 on residential wildlife-related activities. The majority of Canadians believe that it is important to maintain abundant wildlife and to protect declining or endangered wildlife.
Recreation: Importance of Water for Tourism and Recreation in Canada
Water contributes to the quality of our lives. Activities such as swimming, beach activity, boating, canoeing, and fishing allow us to experience the beauty of our lakes and rivers. More than a third of adult Canadians (8.5 million people) take part in these activities on 89 million trips or outings during the year. The presence of water also enhances activities like camping, sightseeing and photographing nature. A significant portion of the $12 billion that nature-based tourism and recreation contribute to the Canadian GDP results from activities that depend on clean and abundant water. For example, nearly $2 billion results from expenditures on recreational fishing alone.
| Participation | Total Days | Trips | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % of population age 15 and over | Total | Same-day | Overnight | |
| 8 532 000 | 36.3% | 134 520 000 | 89 423 000 | 59 239 000 | 30 184 000 |
| Region | Swimming / Beach activity | Canoeing / Kayaking / Sailing | Power boating | Fishing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % of pop. 15+ | Number | % of pop. 15+ | Number | % of pop. 15+ | Number | % of pop. 15+ | |
| Canada | 5 582 000 | 23.7 | 2 342 000 | 9.9 | 2 183 000 | 9.3 | 418 400 | 17.7 |
| Newfoundland | 109 000 | 24.1 | 40 000 | 9.0 | 33 000 | 7.4 | 138 000 | 30.6 |
| Prince Edward Island | 29 000 | 27.0 | 5 600 | 5.2 | 4 600 | 4.3 | 13 000 | 12.5 |
| Nova Scotia | 203 000 | 27.5 | 75 000 | 10.2 | 36 000 | 4.8 | 110 000 | 14.9 |
| New Brunswick | 139 000 | 23.0 | 61 000 | 10.2 | 33 000 | 5.5 | 103 000 | 17.0 |
| Quebec | 970 000 | 16.4 | 509 000 | 8.6 | 386 000 | 6.5 | 1 037 000 | 17.6 |
| Ontario | 2 332 000 | 26.1 | 1 021 000 | 11.4 | 905 000 | 10.1 | 1 536 000 | 17.2 |
| Manitoba | 277 000 | 32.2 | 87 000 | 10.1 | 124 000 | 14.4 | 170 000 | 19.8 |
| Saskatchewan | 218 000 | 28.8 | 71 000 | 9.3 | 127 000 | 16.7 | 171 000 | 22.6 |
| Alberta | 485 000 | 22.7 | 183 000 | 8.6 | 203 000 | 9.5 | 361 000 | 16.9 |
| British Columbia | 818 000 | 26.6 | 286 000 | 9.3 | 330 000 | 10.7 | 537 000 | 17.5 |
| Yukon | 3 300 | 16.7 | 2 000 | 10.3 | 2 000 | 10.4 | 6 400 | 32.2 |
Note: percentage of population age 15 and over
Source: Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians in 1996, special tabulations.
Waste Disposal
It has long been convenient to use lakes, rivers, and oceans as receiving bodies for human and industrial wastes. While water is capable of diluting and "digesting" society's wastes to some degree, there are limits to what even the largest body of water can absorb. The extent to which instream processes can absorb contaminants depends on factors such as the nature of the contaminant, how much of it there is compared to the volume of water, how long the contaminant stays in the water, the temperature of the water, the rate of flow. Many of our waterways are now overloaded with wastes. This problem can best be resolved by increased regulation and/or monitoring.
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